Hasanuddin University will host Prof. Morten P. Meldal, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Head of the Center for Evolutionary Biology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, at an event titled “Nobel Laureate Lecture at Hasanuddin University.”
The event is scheduled for 29 January 2026 and will be a special public lecture bringing a world-class scientist together with students and the Unhas academic community. The event is also planned to be open to the general public.
On the occasion, Prof. Meldal will deliver a keynote speech on the topic “Chemistry for a Sustainable World – Everything is Chemistry and How That Influences Our Choices.”
Organizing Committee Chair Prof. Ir. Suharman Hamzah, Ph.D., HSE., explained that the “Nobel Laureate Lecture” grew out of Unhas’s commitment to strengthening the global academic atmosphere, particularly in developing science oriented toward sustainability.
“We have been building communication and exploring cooperation with The International Peace Foundation since the end of January 2025. The agreement was also marked by an in-person meeting with Mr. Uwe Morawetz, Chairman of the International Peace Foundation, in Jakarta,” said Prof. Suharman.
According to Prof. Suharman, the presence of Prof. Meldal is an important moment for Unhas, not only as an occasion to share the latest knowledge but also as a means of expanding international networks and opening opportunities for cross-country research collaboration.
Prof. Morten Peter Meldal is known as a scientist who made major contributions to the development of click chemistry and bio-orthogonal chemistry, which earned the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly with Barry Sharpless and Carolyn Bertozzi.
Prof. Meldal’s research focuses on peptide synthesis, peptidomimetics, and various organic compounds for chemical biology studies. These findings open broad opportunities in materials science, bioconjugation, pharmaceutical development, and DNA mapping.
With more than 350 scientific publications and 28 patents, Prof. Meldal has also played an important role in founding a number of research-based companies, such as Combio, Versamatrix, and Betamab. These contributions have had a significant influence on the development of modern chemistry and biochemistry.
“This event is expected to inspire Unhas students and researchers to keep developing research that is impactful, relevant to global challenges, and contributes to sustainable development,” said Suharman. (*/dhs)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.